Tides submerge SZ Bay Park cycling path

A striking video showing part of the Shenzhen Bay Park cycling path submerged by water during the recent Dragon Boat Festival holiday went viral, sparking widespread discussion and concern among residents and visitors. 

Vlog screenshots on RedNote capture the Shenzhen Bay Park cycling path underwater during the Dragon Boat Festival. Photos from RedNote

The video, which showed water lapping at the edges of the usually dry cycling path, left many viewers in awe."I have never seen the water level at the park this high before," exclaimed the netizen who posted the video online.

However, experts say there is no need for alarm. According to Ma Haipeng, a guest lecturer at the College of Life Sciences and Oceanography at Shenzhen University, the phenomenon is entirely natural.

"The periodic rise and fall of seawater along the coast is known as tides. When the water level is rising, it is called the flood tide (or incoming tide), culminating in high tide. When the water level is falling, it is called the ebb tide (or outgoing tide), culminating in low tide," he shared.

He then explained that the flooding seen in the video is typical during the "spring tide" period when the gravitational forces of the moon and the sun align, a phenomenon that occurs during the New Moon and Full moon phases (roughly the first and 15th days of the lunar month).

During these times, the tidal range is greater — water levels ebb significantly lower and rise significantly higher than usual. It was these exceptionally high tides that led to the dramatic flooding seen in the video. 

While the sight may be unusual for some, it is a natural part of the coastal environment. As a vibrant coastal city, Shenzhen is no stranger to such tidal events. Understanding and respecting these natural phenomena is crucial for both residents and visitors.

According to Ma, the tides around Shenzhen are classified as irregular semidiurnal tides. This means that within a lunar day (approximately 24 hours and 50 minutes), there are two high tides and two low tides, but these highs and lows are not equal — hence the term irregular semidiurnal tides.

He recommends that before heading to coastal areas, citizens should visit relevant government websites or use tide forecast mini-programs to check tidal predictions.

The Shenzhen Municipal Urban Management Bureau advises citizens who visit Shenzhen Bay Park not to approach the water's edge to play, fish, or take photos and to avoid waterlogged sections of the path.